Perforated record sensing device



Dec. 6, 1949 R. B. JOHNSON PERFORATED RECORD SENSING DEVICE 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 14, 1947 I III Dec. 6, 1949 R. B. JOHNSON PERFORATED RECORD SENSING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 14, 1947 Patented Dec. 6, 1949 PERFORATED RECORD SENSING DEVICE Reynold B. Johnson, Binghamton, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 14, 1947, Serial No. 768,559

'7 Claims. (01. 235-43111) This invention relates to punching or perforating machines and more particularly to machines of the type in which the punching may be controlled manually or by a previously punched card.

The invention is directed to improvements in the type of machine disclosed in F. Lee et al. Patent 1,976,618, granted October 9, 1934 but it is understood that the present improvements may be applied to other forms of machines with equally beneficial results and that the present showing is to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a new form of record card sensing or analyzing mechanism which is adapted to sense the perforations of a master or pattern card to control the actuation of the punching mechanism. In the machine to which the invention is applied, the master or pattern card is placed in a carriage which reciprocates the card to pass a line of sensing elements, and since the reciprocations are numerous it is desirable to provide a sensing device which is out of contact with the card surface during the periods when the card is in motion to thereby obviate wear of the card surface and possible damage to the Sensing elements.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the punching and duplicating machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken on the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the sensing elements and their operating devices.

Fig. 3 is a portion of an end elevation of parts in Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the lines 3-3.

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram of the electric circuits of the machine showing the manner in which the electrical elements of the invention are incorporated therein.

The operation of the machine to which the invention is applied will first be briefly explained with reference to Fig. 1 and thereafter the manner in which the invention is applied thereto will be set forth. Reference may be had to Patent 1,976,618 referred to, for a more detailed explanation of the main machine, which is commercially known as the IBM motor driven duplicating punch. To facilitate cross reference the same reference characters will be employed as in the patent to like elements and the elements of the invention will be distinguished by the The machine is arranged for convenient right hand operation by a handle or finger piece 2' which, when shifted toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, either manually or by the power mechanism of the patent will cause picker 2 to advance a blank card from the bottom of stack 4 to the punching position beneath a row of punches 5. Thru the usual connections comprisin gear I6, shaft 23, and gear 24, rack 25 is driven to the right carrying with it blank card carriage 6 comprising a left and right guide, and pattern card carriage 8 comprising also a left and right guide. Blank card 3 and pattern card H] are shown in their respective carriage which hold them in columnar alignment and with rack 25 in its right hand position the left hand portion of card 3 is beneath punches 5.

Manipulation of keys 9 or energization of magnets 60 will activate the punches and for each actuation, the usual escapement devices are operated to advance the rack 25 and carriage 6 and 8 one card column or step to the left until the cards reach the position of Fig. 1. From this position card 3 is then automatically ejected toward the left and the carriages return to the right where carriage 6 receives a new blank card.

Pattern card It], however, remains in its carriage so that it returns to the right and then accompanies the next blank card on its journey to the left. This card I 0 is provided with perforations in selected columns which it is desired to duplicate in corresponding columns of each card 3. To this end, a row or line of sensing pins 10a (see Fig. 2) is located in line with punches 5 and the operation is such that when a column of card If! is beneath pins Illa, the corresponding column of card 3 is beneath the punches 5. The pins Illa, at such time will sense the column of card I0 and if a perforation is found therein, a circuit will be completed to energize an appropriate duplicating magnet 60 to effect punching of a corresponding hole in the column of card 3.

There is a pin IOa, provided for each of the usual twelve punch positions of the pattern card. Each of the pins comprises a sleeve Ila in the lower end of which is inserted a tightly wound spring 12a. Within the lower end of spring I2a is the sensing point i3a. This construction enables a slight flexure of the lower extremity so that if the card should strike against the side of point l3a, it will yield and snap back in vertical alignment when released.

A hook I4a is secured in the upper end of sleeve Ila and engages in an opening of an insulating eyelet IS!) in the free end of an armature link 1511 which is pivoted at Ilia to a metallic block Ila.

Sleeves Ha are guided thru an angle plate Ho and are configured with extensions I9a at their upper ends to cooperate with springs 20a, normally urging the pins IIIaupwardly to hold link- I511 against an insulating stop 2Ia. Each hook Ila is insulated from its link Ia and a separate block I'Ia is provided for each link, mounted on" an insulating bar 22a. Thus each link I50: and

related block I'Ia is electrically insulated from the others and from the machine framework.

Extending across beneath all twelve links 15a The is the metallic core 23a of a winding m; core is fastened to a bracket 25a which is also insulated from the machine framework.

It is thus apparent that upon energization of winding 24a, all the armature links I5a will be urged in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 2) about their pivots I6a anda'll pins Illa will be urged downwardly against card I0. where a hole occurs the pins point I3a will pass thru the hole and allow the link torock sufficiently to contact core'23a: In position where there is no hole, the surface of the card'will -iritercept the pin movement and prevent contact of link I5a and'core 23a.

The causes and consequences of these actions may best be explained by reference to the wiring diagram of Fig. 4 wherein the elements are identified by the same reference characters as in the patent to which reference may'be had' for details of operation.

Briefly the so'called floating cam contact I28 In positionscloses coincidently with the presentation of each card column to the sensingpins Illa and punches 5 and remain closeduntil an escapement is effected to advance the card tothe next column. Whencontacts I28 close, a circuit is'completed from line I34, contacts I36, I',-I8I, and-I28 to winding 24a and to line l33- This will cause attraction of all links I5a,-but" if the card column at the'pins Illa is unperforated, all links I5a are prevented-from rocking-to their limit positions, Ifa perforation is' encountered in some positions, the relatedpin IOa will descend its full extent and-the related link I5a will contact the common core 23ato com plete a parallel circuit extending from contacts I28 to core 23a, link Mia, and related duplicating magnet 50 to line I33;

Operation of magnet 59 will, asusual, punch a hole in card 3 and as an incident thereto cause opening of contacts I28 before the card car'- riages are escaped to thenext column. Therefore, the circuits traced are broken, to enable re-' tracting of pins Illa, which will occur before the cards move, so that during such'm'ovement the' pins are out of engagement'with-the card.

It is thus seen that with the device-of the invention, pins lila are magnetically urged into sensing position for each card column sensed and when a hole is encountered, a circuit-is completed thru the magnet core to effectduplicate Where no hole is encountered, the second circuit is of course,- not completed andcarriage advance occurs under key control,-which I punching.

as usual, also effectsopening of contacts I28 to insure that with the cards in motion, pins Illa are out of engagement therewith.

While there have been shown and describedand pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the folelectromagnetic means, once for each card column presented tosaid station;

2. In amachine havin a card sensing'station, a card carriage and devices for advancing the carriage step'by step to present a succession of card columnsto the station, in combination withsensing devices at the station, normally biasedoutof engagement with'the card-and means controlledby said advancing devices to cause the sensing devices to descend into engagementwiththe card at each step while the card is atrestand to be in raised position while the card is in motion.

3. In a, machine of theclass described, a cardsensing device comprising a plurality of sensing pins'located adjacent-Ia card to be' sensed and" normally biased-out of engagement therewithya plurality of magnet arma tures one for each pin, *connected to said pins for moving the same into sensing position, a magriet common to allthe armatures and means-for energizing the magnet" to cause the pins to move concurrently into sensing position, engagementof apin in a hole inthe card enablingthe pin' to move a predetermined extent and engagement of a pin'with an imperforate part of the card limiting the movement of the pin to-alesser extent;

4. The invention setfo'rth in claim 3 in which a contact device is provided for each-pin, and a Y circuit connection-including said contact devices,

the movement of any pin'to its greater predetermined extent causin closure of said contact device to complete the circuit connection;

5; The invention set forth in claim 3 in which the card contacting extremity of each sensing pin is constructed to enable flexure of the contactendout of a straight line, and spring means is providedto bias the end in a straight line.

6. In a machine of the class described, a card sensing pin, located adjacent a card to be sensed,

and'normally biased out of engagement there-' with, a magnet armature connected to the pin for moving the same into sensing position, a mag net foroperating the-armature and means for energizing the magnet to cause'thepin to contact the card.

'7. The invention set forth in claim 6 in which the armature contacts the magnet/core when the actuated pin encounters a hole in the-card, and a signal circuit, said core and armature constitilting a circuit closing device in said circuit to close the same;

REYN OLD B. JOHNSON.

No references cited; 

